A judge sentenced Rice to 30 days in jail, and he accepted a six-game suspension. At a game on Sunday, Sept. 14, Kelce, Tyquan Thornton, and Hollywood Brown all wore “Free 4” shirts ahead of the game. Rice plays under the number four. 

People are slamming Travis Kelce for his support of his teammate

The shirts sparked swift backlash, with one Reddit user saying that wearing the shirts was “pathetic behavior.” They felt that Rice got the consequences he deserved.

“Free him from the consequences of his actions?” asked another person.

“Free him from what? He [pleaded] guilty and accepted his punishment,” wrote another person. “Travis is an idiot.”

Many people expressed frustration that Kelce decided to speak up in favor of his teammate.

“Out of all the battles to pick, he chooses the guy who admitted to causing a pile up? AND he fled the scene?” wrote one person

Others felt that the six game suspension wasn’t particularly harsh.

“What is he getting free from?” asked one person. “It is a 6 game suspension for what should’ve been reckless endangerment.”

A lawyer for one of the victims also commented on the shirts.

“Rashee isn’t Nelson Mandela or Pepe Mujica, men who fought for what they believed in,” Marc Lenahan, who represents Kathryn Kuykendall, told TMZ Sports. “There is evidence that Rashee was going 119 mph in a $1,749 per day Lambo rental that had pot and a pistol in it, on a highway on Easter weekend. Free Rashee? He already thinks he’s getting away scot-free. He’s not paid a single cent of the $1.1 million judgment he already owes our client, who is living anything but pain-free.”

Amid the backlash, the Chiefs’ coach, Andy Reid, commented on the shirts. He said he just thought the players were trying to support their teammate, not make a comment on his actions.